One Battle After Another emerged as the defining film of the 98th Academy Awards, claiming six Oscars and cementing its status as the night’s biggest winner at the global film industry’s most prestigious celebration. The awards honoured outstanding films released in 2025, with victories spanning top creative and technical categories.
The ceremony, organised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, recognised excellence across 24 categories, drawing attention to bold storytelling, artistic innovation, and landmark achievements in cinema. One Battle After Another secured the coveted Best Picture award, alongside Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, underlining its dominance throughout the night.
Brandspur Brand News reports that director Paul Thomas Anderson used his acceptance speech to deliver a reflective message, describing the film as a personal apology to the next generation for the state of the world being passed on to them. He expressed hope that younger voices would help restore common sense and decency in society, drawing sustained applause from the audience.
The film also earned Best Supporting Actor honours for Sean Penn, despite his absence from the ceremony. International media reports later indicated that the actor was visiting Ukraine at the time of the awards. Additional wins for the film included Best Film Editing and Best Casting, reinforcing its sweeping success.
Sinners, which entered the night with a record-breaking 16 nominations, secured four major awards. The film’s achievements included Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, marking his first Oscar win for a lead performance, as well as Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Score.
A historic moment unfolded when cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw won Best Cinematography for Sinners, becoming the first woman and the first Black professional to claim the award in the category’s history. The win was widely celebrated as a milestone for diversity and representation in filmmaking.
In the acting categories, Jessie Buckley took home Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet, making history as the first Irish winner in the category. Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for Weapons, further highlighting the night’s strong focus on performance-driven cinema.
Elsewhere, KPop Demon Hunters claimed Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, while Sentimental Value won Best International Feature. The documentary category was led by Mr Nobody Against Putin, which secured Best Documentary Feature, adding political depth to the evening’s honours.
Technical awards were spread across high-profile productions, with Avatar: Fire and Ash winning Best Visual Effects, F1 taking Best Sound, and Frankenstein collecting multiple honours including Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Make-Up and Hairstyling.
The 98th Academy Awards concluded with One Battle After Another firmly positioned as the standout film of the year, while the ceremony itself reflected an industry increasingly shaped by diverse voices, socially conscious narratives, and bold creative ambition.
